Interview with Keith Levene, May 2001.
Bad Baby
Public Image Ltd. Lyrics
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I've got an eye to buy the best
Before the rush
Someone left a baby in the car park
Never any reason
Don't you listen
One more sob story
Someone is calling
Calling through mirrors
Don't you listen, don't interfere
Ignore it and it will go away
Someone is calling
Don't you listen, don't you listen
Someone is calling
Don't you listen, don't you listen
The lyrics to Public Image Ltd.'s song Bad Baby are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about the daily grind of life and the senseless tragedies that occur each day. With lines like "I've got an eye to buy the best", one can infer that the singer is focused on success and material possessions, possibly at the expense of others. The line "someone left a baby in the car park" brings a dark element to the song, suggesting that even in the midst of daily routine and ambition, something horrific can happen and go unnoticed. The subsequent lines "never any reason, don't you listen, one more sob story" imply a sense of apathy or numbness to tragedy, which is further emphasized by the repeating lines "someone is calling, don't you listen, don't you interfere, ignore it and it will go away". The repetition of these lines could signify a larger societal issue of being desensitized to, or actively ignoring, the cries of those in need or suffering.
Overall, the song presents a bleak outlook on modern life and the ways in which we can become detached from our own humanity, but also serves as a call to action to listen, empathize and engage with the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Nearly ten thirty, I'm rising early
I woke up early at around 10:30 AM
I've got an eye to buy the best
I plan to buy the best things
Before the rush
Before everyone else goes out shopping
Someone left a baby in the car park
A person abandoned a baby in the parking lot
Never any reason
There was no apparent reason for abandoning the baby
Don't you listen
The singer is warning not to pay attention to the next few lines
One more sob story
The next lines will be another sad story
Someone is calling
The baby is crying out for help
Seen through the window
The artist can see the baby crying from a window
Calling through mirrors
The baby's cries are echoing and bouncing off mirrors
Don't you listen, don't interfere
The singer is advising not to get involved or help the baby
Ignore it and it will go away
The artist believes that if they ignore the situation, it will resolve on its own
Someone is calling
The baby's cries continue
Don't you listen, don't you listen
The singer urges again to not pay attention or interfere with the situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARTIN CLIVE ATKINS, KEITH LEVENE, JOHN LYDON, JOHN WARDLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind